This blog contains a series of movie segments to be used to brainstorm, warm up, follow up, and activate schemata, preparing the students for the topic that will be discussed in class. Here you will find the segments, the lesson plans, and varied topics to foster conversation. You may use the activities for a full two-hour class or they can be used separately to brainstorm or wrap up the topic, focusing on conversation, vocabulary and listening comprehension.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

I love the movie Big Fish, but Bangkok Dangerous is not a recommendation. These scenes are very nice, though, for the topic urban violence.

I. Discuss these questions in pairs:

1. How safe is it to live in your neighborhood?

2. How do you compare your neighborhood to others in your city?

3. Is urban violence a problem where you live? Talk about it.

4. Have you ever been to a place where there is a lot of urban violence? How did you deal with it?:

5. Have you ever been a victim of urban violence? Would you like to talk about it?

6. What are the causes of urban violence?

7. What can be done to stop or reduce crime rates where you live?

II. Match the following urban crimes and their definitions.

1. Bank robbery

2. Robbery

3. Stalk

4. Sex Tourism

5. Mugging

6. Express Kidnapping

7. Kidnap

8. Malfeasance

9. Rape

10. Drug dealing

11. Smuggle

12. Arson

13. Murder

14. Domestic Violence

( ) The victim is abducted, then forced to
withdraw their own ransom from a bank or ATM. If all goes well, the
victim is released afterwards, generally after having been relieved of
all valuables on their person (and occasionally in their residence).

( ) Stealing money from a bank, usually with the use of weapons

( ) to attack a person in a public place and steal their money:

( ) the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something, especially a building

( ) the crime of intentionally killing a person

( ) an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority

( ) behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other.
Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian;
living together, separated or dating

( ) the crime of stealing from somewhere or someone( ) to illegally follow and watch someone, usually a woman, over a period of time( ) to force someone to have sex when they are unwilling, using violence or threatening behaviour( ) to take things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally( ) when someone travels to another country for the purpose of paying to have sex, especially with children or under aged citizens( ) when someone travels to another country for the purpose of paying to have sex, especially with children

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The Lorax is a great movie. Its message is constructive and inspiring. I used this scene to talk about activism. The Bay is a thriller and is advisable just for adults.

Activism is action on behalf of a cause, action that goes beyond what is conventional or routine. The action might be door-to-door canvassing, alternative radio, public meetings, rallies, or fasting. The cause might be women's rights, opposition to a factory, or world peace. Activism has played a major role in ending slavery, challenging dictatorships, protecting workers from exploitation, protecting the environment, promoting equality for women, opposing racism, and many other important issues. Activism can also be used for aims such as attacking minorities or promoting war.

There are many different forms of activism; "activism" isn't synonymous with "radical." Nor does activism mean violence or the destruction of property. Boycotting is a form of activism as are silent candlelight vigils. Gandhi was an activist as was Mother Teresa.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

I simply love this movie. It was certainly one of 2012 best films. This scene is wonderful to talk about advertising and misleading ads.

False advertising, misleading advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising.
As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial
transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around
the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or misleading
advertising. "Truth" refers to essentially the same concept, that
customers have the right to know what they are buying, and that all necessary information should be on the label.

False advertising, in the most blatant of contexts, is illegal in
most countries. However, advertisers still find ways to deceive
consumers in ways that are legal, or technically illegal but
unenforceable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_advertising I. Discuss the questions: 1. Have you ever purchased anything that did not correspond to what had been advertised or promised? Share this experience.2. What do you do when you feel deceived by a product or store?3. What do you do to be compensated for the damage?4. How can certain companies mislead the consumer to buy their products?5. What do your country laws say about misleading ads?6. Misleading advertising occurs when a claim about a product or service is
materially false or misleading, in an attempt to persuade the consumer
to buy it. What should the consequences be to a company/product whose ads are misleading? II. Watch the segment form the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and discuss the questions:

1. What is being promised and what is being offered?2. How misleading is the ad?3. What would you do if you were one of those tourists?4. What sort of punishment, if any, should the hotel owner receive? Explain your answer.5. Would you like to go the Marigold Hotel? Why (not)?6. Have you ever experienced anything similar when you traveled? Talk about it.

Friday, March 1, 2013

This is a wonderful scene with a touching and inspiring message. It is a great to tool to help your students share moments or happenings that changed their lives or personality.

I. Work with a partner. Rank the events below from 1 to according to how drastically they can change someone's life. Make sure you explain your choices (1 not drastically at all / 5 very drastically)

OR

I. OPINION DICTATION:

Your teacher will dictate some events. Use a blank sheet of paper and divide it into 3 columns with the headings below. Write them down in in the column you believe applies to you. Don't show your answers to your peers. Then group up with a few partners, share and compare your list, and say why and how your life would change (have changes) under those circumstances.

MY OTHER BLOG

Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals

About Me

I'm a teacher at Casa Thomas Jefferson, Brasilia, Brazil. I'm a Branch Coordinator and Teacher Trainer as well. I really like movies and seeing them with "different" eyes, trying to see how I can use them in my classroom. Recently, I have dedicated my ideas to grammar activities with movie segments because, apparently, teachers use movies for many purposes, but grammar. Working with movie segments fosters students' production and interest. I truly believe that grammar exercises should be attractive. I have just developed a new blog for movie segments to enhance topic based classes, focusing on conversation, listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. If you have suggestions for the blogs and the activities, just say it!

Casa Thomas Jefferson

O Inglês Como Deve Ser

Welcome

The main purpose of this blog is to share activities to enhance the teacher's lesson plan. They will not replace the course book, but they will make the lessons more attractive and richer. Share your warm-up activity with movie segments too. You may email it to me at claudioazevedo@thomas.org.br and the activity will be credited to you with a link to your own site if it's the case. Give me suggestions for topics and segments too, please. Isn't sharing just fantastic?